This is probably the first G1 race that I have covered that I can recall so I hope I do it justice.\u00a0 Welcome people to the Jockey Guild Gold Cup Grade 1 over a mile and one quarter. The dirt track is rated as fast for these 3yo’s and up and it should be one cracker of a race at first glance at the runners.\u00a0 Let’s see who is running and who the standouts are:<\/P>
1 A PRAYER(KY)<\/STRONG>\u00a0 <\/P> Owner: 88stud 4yo colt out of Crafty Prospector x Danzig x Seattle Slew. Is in the best form of his career at the moment running some good recent races.\u00a0 Has only 2 wins to his name but has been very consistent in placing throughout his racing career to date. One of those wins and where he earnt the majority of his earnings was 2 runs back in the G2 Iowa Cornhusker BB Classic over 9 furlongs on what was rated as a good dirt track. Won by 3 lengths with a speed rating of 109. Great run!\u00a0 His last race out was in the G2 Insulin Cap over 9 furlongs again, fast dirt and placed second with a career best speed of 112.\u00a0 Prior to that was mainly Allowance and Stakes racing with some moderate success.\u00a0 So he is in good form and starting to make his claim at G2 grade. Will need to continue his recent good form and probably improve to take this out.\u00a0 Chance though of being there at the end.<\/P> 2 ANDREW JOHN(KY)<\/STRONG><\/P> Owner: sonofaus\u00a0 Breeding is from A.P. Indy x Sadler’s Wells x Seeking The Gold and has 6 wins to his name out of 13 outings.\u00a0 Coming off yet another win at Stakes level with a very good run over 11 furlongs with a speed of 111.\u00a0 Well running colt in decent form.\u00a0 Have to point out one thing though.\u00a0 while he has been running decent runs has been unable to really make the jump from Stakes level into Group racing.\u00a0 The best he has done at Group level was back in February with a third place finish in a G2 race.\u00a0 Since then though each time he has had his chance has been unable to really push to be with the front runners.\u00a0 Trainer giving him another chance here – will need to possibly start his run earlier so that he has enough room to wind up to his top speed and catch the front-runners. Owner: lenny9 With 8 wins from only 14 outings, The Kid is used to winning. Running recently in some big races had a great win in August in the G1 CA Classic over 10 furlongs winning by 1 3\/4 lengths. Speed rating of 117. Thats pretty impressive.\u00a0 Likes to lead and get out front early in the race. One of the ones that I believe can take this out particularly if he gets a good jump and the early run as he likes to do. Out of Seeking Gold x Northern Dancer x Hail To Reason has some very good bloodlines and will have a very good chance at this if he runs like he did two outings back.\u00a0 Certainly worth a bet. Owner: avalanche3 Out of the highly fancied Ghostzapper x Pulpit x Forty Niner, is going to be doing it tough here you would think based on his recent form and results which is probably why the tote has him at 15\/1.\u00a0 Still he can run otherwise he wouldnt be here. Does prefer to lead if he gets a good jump and then try and hang on at the finish.\u00a0 Last time out was a third place finish in the Their Rattles Cap Stakes over 10 furlongs.\u00a0 I just have a question mark on whether he can put together the pace and stamina for this distance.\u00a0 <\/P> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Owner: meguire2nd Long shot of the race but is in the form of his career coming off of 2 wins.\u00a0 Last outing was a win over 10 furlongs in the Deputy Robin Memorial Stakes on a slow track which he won convincingly by 2 lengths and a speed of 108.\u00a0 Previous race was also a win in Allowance company again over 10 furlongs. Out of Bluegrass Cat x Unbridled’s Song x Runaway Groom certainly likes the wetter tracks with a record of 7 outings for 2-2-2.\u00a0 Based on his recent form he will need to step up again to challenge here.\u00a0 In good form though and fantastic odds if he does get there.<\/P> 6 HERE FOR THE PARTY<\/STRONG> <\/P> Owner: babyfarm Known as the life of the party is always ready to go on, make a joke or just chat about anything thats going to keep the atmosphere flowing.\u00a0 Out of Hansel x Trempolino x Danzig, is an experienced campaigner with 9 wins to his name. Last time out needed some extra distance as he was still winding up as he crossed the finish line.\u00a0 However he put it all together for his ninth win in the recent Scapped River Special stakes over 10 furlongs with a speed of 113.\u00a0 Even though this is harder, much harder he does have the experience, form and knowledge to challenge in this one.\u00a0 Could be worth watching if you prefer the experienced runner. Owner: illbred Another out of the very successful Ghostzapper x Seattle Slew x Buckpasser, this one is on the money.\u00a0 Seems to excel in these higher grade races with a resounding win by 4 1\/2 lengths in the G1 Ace Bailey’s Childrens Foundation Restricted race in August and a speed of 115.\u00a0 With varied placings at Stakes level, we go back to February and March where he won in both the G2 Vermont is 4 Lovers and the Stakes Rock’s Texas Cooking Series both over 10 furlongs.\u00a0 At his distance here and he likes to perform at the top level.\u00a0 Hard to go past. Owner: spqr Awesome Again x Alydar x Bold Ruler is the breeding and is in reasonable form although not the best of his career. A 4yo colt that is going to have to step up here certainly in terms of the speeds he has been posting on average considering some of the class he is up against here.\u00a0 May well enjoy the extra distance being allowed in this race and has raced in Group racing before although not with much success to date.\u00a0 Odds are probably flattering where he stands in this race and will need a very good run to take this out. Owner: waremblem1 Good name. I like it.\u00a0 From Kingmambo x Seattle Slew x Alleged is this upstanding and mighty 5yo chestnut horse. Not so mighty last time out though with a very disappointing run in the G1 The George W. Loser Tribute over 10 furlongs.\u00a0 Finished in 9th place and fading badly more than 26 lengths behind the leader.\u00a0 One the trainer will be wanting to forget and so I wont say anything more about it here.\u00a0 Actually forget I even mentioned it. The race we can talk about is the previous outing which was a Stakes race, The Cat Dance Memorial also over 10 furlongs. Sensational win by almost two lengths and a very good speed of 110. Not the first run of this quality either with a win in the G2 Statewide Pinhead Guild Stakes back in April.\u00a0 So he can run.\u00a0 Definite chance here if he runs in that sort of form.\u00a0 Worth considering. Owner: catamount2 One of the more fancied runners on the tote and if you look at his record you can see why. Consistency with a capital C. Coming into this race on the back of 3 wins all at Stakes level and at consistent – theres that word again – speeds of 111, 112 and 110. From Smart Strike x Broad Brush x Alydar and looks the goods here.\u00a0 In tip top form and you would be hard pressed to dismiss this one lightly.\u00a0 Did run at G3 level back in April which was a miserable ninth place.\u00a0 Only question mark really – can he step up here? I think he can.<\/P> 11 SUMMER WINE(KY)<\/STRONG> <\/P> Owner: kingman Another one with good consistent racing and this at Group level too this time.\u00a0 Out of Forestry x Nureyev x Buckpasser has only 3 wins to his name so you would think is being pushed way too hard to even be considered here. Not so because has raced at Group level before including G1 and placed.\u00a0 Likes the distance so is deserved odds at 8\/1.\u00a0 You would think would be around the front runners in the straight – only needs to step up a little to challenge.\u00a0 Certainly worth putting a few bob on this one. Owner: jakematt Out of Gone West x Nureyev x Round Table.\u00a0 You dont find too many at this level with unknown or unproven sires do you? This one will be full of confidence after coming from a very close win by a head in the G2 Upstate BB Stakes over 10 furlongs.\u00a0 Up and down a little in form so hard to pick which way he is going to run this time.\u00a0 Hopefully the right way and thats finishing hard like he did last time out.\u00a0 Outer odds so watch your money but this one could very well surprise.\u00a0 Maybe… <\/P> \u00a0<\/P> The winner\u00a0today\u00a0will be taking\u00a0home a whole bunch of cash.\u00a0My picks\u00a0for the finish are:<\/P> 7 BLUEGRASS GHOST(KY)<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0<\/STRONG> Decent Field in the Jockey Guild<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6717\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Record: 21-2-6-4
Earnings: $395,761
Jockey: R Haffner
Odds: 11\/1<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/P>
Record: 13-6-1-1
Earnings: $230,125
Jockey: B Dirks
Odds: 7\/1<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/P>
\u00a0
3 THE KID STU(KY)<\/STRONG> <\/P>
Record: 14-8-2-0
Earnings: $829,120
Jockey: N Lawton
Odds: 7\/1<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/P>
\u00a0
4 THOROUGHFARE(KY)<\/STRONG> <\/P>
Record: 21-3-3-5
Earnings: $164,119
Jockey: J Bachand
Odds: 15\/1<\/EM> <\/P>
5 THE BLUE SINGS(KY)<\/STRONG>\u00a0 <\/P>
Record: 17-4-2-4
Earnings: $125,498
Jockey: T Johnson
Odds: 28\/1<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/P>
Record: 43-9-9-4
Earnings: $616,632
Jockey: C Ambrose
Odds: 9\/1<\/EM>\u00a0 <\/P>
\u00a0\u00a0
7 BLUEGRASS GHOST(KY)<\/STRONG>\u00a0 <\/STRONG><\/P>
Record: 22-8-6-0
Earnings: $1,037,921
Jockey: B Child
Odds: 9\/2<\/EM> <\/P>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
8 SPANIARD(KY)<\/STRONG> <\/P>
Record: 19-6-1-2
Earnings: $249,584
Jockey: R Foster
Odds: 9\/1<\/EM> <\/P>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
9 MANIUS THE MIGHTY<\/STRONG>\u00a0 <\/P>
Record: 30-9-5-5
Earnings: $545,885
Jockey: P Davis
Odds: 9\/1<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/P>
\u00a0
10 STRIKE THE RED(KY)<\/STRONG> <\/P>
Record: 27-10-4-3
Earnings: $317,335
Jockey: A Sailor
Odds: 5\/1<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/P>
Record: 17-3-6-3
Earnings: $237,815
Jockey: Ax Williams
Odds: 8\/1<\/EM>\u00a0 <\/P>
\u00a0\u00a0
12 ALINA DANCER<\/STRONG> <\/P>
Record:
Earnings:
Jockey: N Painter
Odds: 10\/1<\/EM>\u00a0 <\/P>
11 SUMMER WINE(KY)<\/STRONG>
6 HERE FOR THE PARTY<\/STRONG><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"